Artificial hand



pt- 1942- R. L. DAVID ARTIFICII XL HAND Filed Feb. 20, 1940 z'n/vesv roR A r'To Fin/BY Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL HAND Roy L. David, San Jose, Calif.

Application February 20, 1940, Serial No. 319,866

1 Claim. (01. 312) The present invention relates particularly to that type of artificial hand wherein a supporting socket is formed at one end of the hand, and jaw members are projected forwardly of the socket to cooperate therewith in supporting an object. Reference is made to my copending application for a patent for improvements in Artificial hands, filed Jan. 4, 1938, and bearing Serial No. 183,317 now Patent #2,225,468, patented December 17, 1940.

In the process of commercializing the artificial hand referred to in my copending application new problems presented themselves. I found that while the device could be easily inserted in a pocket by its wearer it unduly expanded the same and formed unsightly protuberences, and was not always easily removed or withdrawn; that it was inconveniently bulky; that it involved serious manufacturing difiiculties; and that the cost of manufacture was too high.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a device of the character indicated that will be small and compact in form and size, that will be simple in form and construction, and that will be more effective in grasping and holding articles than similar devices heretofore known in the art.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated that will not only be more efiicient in the work which it is designed to do than any other device known in the art, but one that will also be lighter in weight without any sacrifice in strength.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fi ure 1.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1. i

As in other devices of this type, there are two distinct parts to this hand, one part being rigidly attached to the arm of the wearer and the other being pivotally mounted on the first member. These parts are indicated generally at I and 2, respectively, and their point of pivotal connection is indicated at 3. The part I is rigidly attachable to a supporting frame, not shown, at 5, and the two parts are urged into closed relationship to each other by means of an elastic band 5.

In accordance with the present invention the or cup 1 formed in its forwardly directed end as shown, the axis of this cup I preferably substantially coinciding with the axis of the body por tion 6 and attaching means 4.

Extending angularly outwardly and forwardly from one edge of cup I is an arm 8. This arm, at the point of departure from the cup or socket,'is transversely arcuate in form, and consequently presents two spaced edges as 9 for receiving or contacting an article placed across them and to be held by the hand.

At some suitable point as Ill this arm bends inwardly and forwardly and terminates in an angular seat II, the bottom of this seat, I2, preferably lying in axial alignment with the socket I as I3. The arm 8 narrows somewhat from base to tip and takes on a more triangular form in cross section as shown in Figure 4, thereby maintaining great strength with extreme lightness. The arm 8 is provided with a radially directed terminal hook member I4, this hook member being angularly directed relative to the plane of movement of the cooperating arm I5 now to be described.

The arm I5 is substantially circular in cross section throughout its length and is, of course, integral with part 2, and is provided with a laterally projecting finger Ifia by means of which it may be forced to move in opposition to the resilient restraining band 5.

The forward end of arm I5 is shaped to seat in the seat I I, and is provided with a hook member I6 disposed in complementary relationship to hook member I4. A rear portion of the arm I5 seats in a socket or notch I5 formed in an edge portion of the socket I diametrically opposite to the arm 8.

' When the parts are assembled as above described the arm I5 will move in a plane I I bisecting the arm 8 and socket I.

By means of the construction and relative arrangement of parts described many articles may be readily grasped between the hook members I4 and I6, and any article seated in socket I and seat II will be rigidly held in position as will be readily understood.

An article grasped in the last named position will be firmly held because the arm I5 contacts the article between its supporting seats II and I, and if of small diameter will be held substantially coaxial with the socket 1. An article of larger diameter will, of course, be proportionately angled relative to said axis because, while the rear end of such article will be axially seated in socket part I comprises a body portion 6 having a socket "I, the forward portion will be positioned with a marginal rather than an axial portion in the seat 12, whereby to misalign the article a distance substantially equally to the radius of the part gripped at the seat I2.

By aligning the seat ll, socket I and part 4 the said socket I functions as a thrust bearing that centers the acting forces directly on the part 4 where the resisting and control powers are the greatest, and it also permits forming the arm 8 integrally with the socket 'l and in a position where the greatest strength can be secured, In effect, the wall of the socket forms the base of the arm where the greatest breaking strain i-s applied, and it, in itself provides the desired additional strength.

Again, by bringing the several parts intd the association described I am enabled to form. the arm 8 as shown, that is, with a V shapedchanhel extending lengthwise of its inner side, and forming an arm that is itself V shaped in transverse ross: section. By forming thearm inthis manner :Ij secure the. desired; spaced: supporting: edges a, greatl increased stren th over other forms, much desired lightness and; streamlining, and a channel; that will, with some tools, function in a manner similar" to the socket I. The channel referred to is indicated by reference character I 8.

V It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An artificial hand, comprising an elongated jaw member adapted to be rigidly attached to the arm of the wearer, said member having an integral and forwardly directed socket formed thereon substantially axially of the member, a trough-shaped arm integrally connected to and projecting forwardly from an edge of said socket with the trough thereof facing the projected axis of said socket and jaw member, a seat formed in said arm in substantial alignment with said axis,

- a second elongated jaw member, means pivotally connecting said second jaw member to said first jaw member, said second jaw member being movable on said pivotal connecting means through an arc bisecting the projected axis of said socket and met jaw member into and out of engagement with.said:seat,. and said socket having in an edge portion thereof a notch substantially diametri- Cally pposite to said arm, said notch receiving a rear portion of said second jaw member when the forward portion thereof is engaged with said seat.

ROY L. DAVID. 

